King County Steps Up Enforcement For Vaccine Verification Rules

SEATTLE — Public health officials have updated their framework for enforcing King County's vaccine verification rules, establishing a stepped process that includes escalating fines and forced closures for businesses that refuse to comply with the order after multiple warnings.

The county-level rules took effect one month ago and require patrons to show proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or recently tested negative for the virus, before they can participate in a number of public activities, from indoor dining to attending most concerts and sporting events.

The public health order rules apply to:

• Outdoor events with 500 people or more – such as professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events.
• Indoor entertainment and recreational events or establishments – such as professional and collegiate sports, entertainment, performing arts, museums, theatre, live music, gyms, and conferences/conventions.
• Restaurants and bars (including indoor dining) – this does not apply to outdoor dining, take-out customers, and places that aren't primarily used as a restaurant, such as grocery stores.

In a blog post shared Tuesday, Public Health - Seattle & King County noted strong compliance among the more than 10,000 businesses subject to the rules but noted it had received nearly 250 complaints alleging violations since the orders took effect.

"We worked with the business and arts communities to develop this vaccination verification policy and, in turn, we’ve seen strong compliance," said Dennis Worsham, interim director for Public Health – Seattle & King County. "We want to ensure that all businesses covered by the policy are complying with it so that staff and patrons are protected. Ultimately, this is about reopening in a way that reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission, and protects our healthcare system and our most vulnerable residents."

King County's enforcement efforts will continue to prioritize education and outreach, but businesses that ignore warnings will be subject to more stringent penalties, officials said. Residents who wish to file a complaint over non-compliance may do so via a new online portal.

Here is how the county plans to approach enforcement moving forward:

1. Education and outreach: If we receive a complaint of a business being out of compliance with the policy, we will reach out to the business to notify them of the complaint, share educational resources, and inform them of the enforcement process.
2. In-person inspection: If we determine the business is choosing to be out of compliance, or if we receive three or more complaints about the business, we will send an inspector to the business to discuss the violations and investigate whether the complaints are accurate.
3. Notice of violation: If the inspector determines that the business continues to choose to be in non-compliance, Public Health will issue a “notice of violation,” which serves as a warning of fines that could be issued if the business does not work to come into full compliance.
4. Second inspection & fines: If, after a second in-person inspection, we determine that the business continues to choose to be non-compliant, we will begin issuing escalating fines, starting at $250.
5. Business closure: If, after fines and multiple inspections, a business still chooses not to implement vaccination verification, we may explore temporarily closing the business.

King County officials said the vaccine verification requirement is not meant to be a permanent measure and is currently slated to expire in March. However, the order could be revised or lifted before then, depending on how the pandemic evolves in the weeks and months to come.

Learn more about King County's vaccine verification program online.